These 8 Short Horror Films That Inspired Full Lengths Movies Will Leave You Dying For More

Have you ever watched a movie that was so good you couldn’t stand for it to end? Well that’s how lots of people felt after watching these 8 brilliant short horror films. These directors and stories were so damn good, they got their ideas turned into full length horror flicks.

1. Saw (2004)

Director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell came up with this short film in 2003 and used it to pitch studios and actors to try and get their idea made into a full-length movie. Little did they know just how successful would be…

Original Title: “Saw” (2003)

Original Running Time: 9 minutes

2. Grace (2009)

Paul Solet used put what money he had into making the short film “Grace” and traveled with it across the festival circuit, where it caught the attention of Hatchet writer/director Adam Green. Green’s company Ariescope Pictures ended up producing the feature-length version three years later.

Original Title: “Grace” (2006)

Original Running Time: 7 minutes

3. The Evil Dead (1981)

Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell decided to go full steam ahead and produce a feature-length horror film, but their low budget turned out to only stretch for 30 minutes. Luckily, the idea attracted the positive attention they had hoped for and got turned into The Evil Dead

Original Title: “Within The Woods” (1978)

Original Running Time: 30 minutes

4. Mama (2013)

Andres Muschietti’s 2008 film was so good it caught the eye of legendary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who turned it into the 2013 horror we know today. Read more about del Toro and Mama .

Original Title: “Mama” (2008)

Original Running Time: 2 minutes

5. Excision (2012)

The longer version is merely an extension of Richard Bates Jr.’s original short horror by the same name.

Original Title: “Excision” (2008)

Original Running Time: 18 minutes

6. Darkness Falls (2003)

Sony was so enchanted with Joe Harris’s chilling interpretation of a child’s bed time story, they stretched it out into Darkness Falls, directed by Jonathan Liebesman.

Original Title: “Tooth Fairy” (2001)

Original Running Time: 5 minutes

7. (2016)

David F. Sandberg’s short film went viral, catching the attention of horror legend James Wan and earning him a chance to turn it into the a full-length feature, out this year.